THE leaders of the Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk People’s Republics (LPR) called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to recognise the regions as independent states today.

LPR head Leonid Pasechnik said that the move would prevent the massacre of some 300,000 ethnic Russians that live in the Donbass region at the hands of the Ukrainian far right.

“I ask you to recognise the sovereignty and independence of the LPR. I also ask you to consider the possibility of concluding a friendship and co-operation agreement between the LPR and the Russian Federation, including co-operation in defence,” he said.